This is a place to discuss coming out as an atheist to religious families and friends. Share your struggles and victories. If you've been there, offer advice. Its a big step and people have a lot of questions and fears. We can get through this together.

I am 13 years old and am wondering what could happen with my family if I told them all. My whole school knows, especially my friends. And my brother does too (He is younger than me). Part my family is American and Catholic to my knowledge, and the other half is Filipino and Christian. Things are starting to show when I don't pray at festive gatherings anymore. I want to come out but I am worried because I love my family more than anything.

If you can't bring yourself to go along with the religious stuff a lot of your family is involved in, try slowly, slowly easing them into it. When they ask why you're not praying, tell them you've been thinking about your beliefs a lot, and you don't believe it would be honest of you to pray when you're uncertain. Tell them you value your honesty, and don't want a dishonest relationship with God.

Let that settle for a while. It's not lying, but it presents your doubts in such a way as to allow your family to believe you're on something of a "spiritual journey." Emphasize that to them, perhaps also reminding them of Matthew 6-6: "But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you."

Keep emphasizing how you've come to regard prayer as a very private affair, not something to be done flagrantly in front of others for bonus points.

Eventually, they'll hopefully come to regard your non-participation as the new normal.

When you're older, if you feel it's necessary to share your atheism with your family, ease them into it. Let them know you've been "questioning" the validity of faith, and are interested in the ideals espoused by secular humanist organizations.

If you are at all concerned that you could be disowned and put out on the street, the best time to actually come out as an atheist to your parents is over a dinner you cooked in your own home after you've invited them over.

I wouldn't just come out and say "Hey everyone I'm an Atheist". That could be one of the bad things you could do, depending on how your family thinks of Atheists. Planning to announce it will also just make thing harder on you. If things are starting to show, maybe just wait and see if someone questions you on why you aren't doing these things anymore.